Valle Lindo Elementary ‘Eagle Botz’ Soar!

Valle Lindo Elementary ‘Eagle Botz’ Soar!

Posted on 03/12/2019

UPDATE: The Valle Lindo “Eagle Botz” took fourth place out of 86 teams in their division at the 2019 VEX Robotics World Championship in Louisville, Kentucky. The April competition brought together top robotics teams from around the world under one roof. The Valle Lindo team has amazed since its start a little over a year ago, thanks to teacher sponsor Ms. Luzak and parent volunteers Mr. Lopez, and Mr. Valle. At the championships, 419 elementary schools were placed into five divisions of about 80 schools each. Valle Lindo was edged out in its division by teams from Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Indiana. Only the top two in each division went to the finals, and Hong Kong and Shanghai took first and second overall in the championship round as well. “Our Eagle Botz team competed in the division that produced the top two world championship teams in the entire elementary competition,” said Principal Erik Latoni. "We are all so proud of them."

It has been a whirlwind debut for the Valle Lindo Elementary Robotics Club, which uses the secondary school robotics platform of VEX Robotics for training and programming. Valle Lindo qualified the only two teams from San Diego for the 2019 California VEX IQ Elementary School State Championship held March 2 at Montgomery High School.

The road to State Finals took the Eagle Botz to multiple competitions at UC San Diego. Taking place on a number of Saturdays in the fall, this upstart team charged head on into these competitions against more experienced squads. On the way to the state finals Valle Lindo competed against not only other Elementary but also Middle School Robotics Teams as they used the challenge to continually sharpen their skill sets and leveled up with each competition. On the way to the state competition, Valle Lindo's robotics teams secured 2nd and 4th place finishes in the Teamwork Challenge Alliance, and 1st place honors for Design and Judges awards.

At the state finals the Valle Lindo Eagles competed with 16 other teams from Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The Eagles secured a 3rd and 13th in the Teamwork Challenge and were awarded the “Amaze” plaque for having the most robust and versatile robot design. The “Eagle Botz Club” has only been in existence for a little over one year and they have had a truly amazing start, thanks to teacher sponsor Ms. Luzak and parent volunteers Mr. Lopez, and Mr. Valle. “Our ‘walk away’ is, The World Championship was in our eyes. We could see it from the heights,” said Valle Lindo Principal Erik Latoni.